Controversy behind the EVMs: Can they be tampered?

Even though the state election commissioner said that EVMs will be used for MCD elections, and even the former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) vouched for these machines saying that EVMs are effective and could be altered, common perception about EVMs is that they can be easily hacked, the complete profile of a voter can be accessed through EVMs, EVMs can be used to manage the results of an election.

In addition, the EVMs can easily be tampered by an election official. (IE)

Even though the state election commissioner said that EVMs will be used for MCD elections, and even the former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) vouched for these machines saying that EVMs are effective and could be altered, common perception about EVMs is that they can be easily hacked, the complete profile of a voter can be accessed through EVMs, EVMs can be used to manage the results of an election. In addition, the EVMs can easily be tampered by an election official.

Even the Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal had written to the Election Commission, requesting not to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for polling during the upcoming municipal elections in the National Capital. Instead, the AAP chief has demanded the use of ballot papers for the polling. Kejriwal’s demand has come in the wake of BSP chief Mayawati’s allegation that the EVMs were tampered in Uttar Pradesh to effect positive results for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Even BSP supremo, Mayawati had alleged, “…several persons had been informing the party (BSP) that grave manipulations have been done in the voting machines by experts of technology and software field hired by BJP in such a manner that particular number of votes as desired by BJP will get automatically transferred to BJP candidates in every constituency even though they have actually been polled in favour of BSP or other political parties.”“The manipulation is absolutely clear from the fact that we have received information from counting agents that in several polling booths where more than 40% to 50% Muslim votes were there still almost all votes are being shown to have been done in favour of BJP,” it added.

Ajay Makan, Congress leader had also said that EVMs should be discontinued and ballot paper used for the elections. In a letter to Delhi State Election Commission, asking them to conduct ensuing Municipal Elections on Ballot Papers, he had said that this is in the wake of the fact that serious doubts have cropped up in the minds of the voters with regard to the use of EVMs. He had said that 2017 elections had demanded vote verifier paper audit trail of EVMs. The is not the first time that the demand for ballot paper has been made.

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EVMs can be hacked is a threat that has been given not only in India, but in many other countries, which is why a number of them have banned the voting machines. Countries where EVMs have been banned include: Netherlands banned it for lack of transparency, Ireland, after three years of research worth 51 million pounds, decided to junk EVMs, Germany declared EVMs unconstitutional and banned it.

Italy also dropped e-voting since its results could be easily managed, in the United States, California and many other states banned EVMs if they did not have a paper trail.

Venezuela, Macedonia and Ukraine stopped using EVMs after massive rigging was found, England and France have never used EVMs.

Many times truth stands alone and is ridiculed. That does not affect truth.AK was the first person to say the demonetisation was meant to protect corporates who owe large amounts to PSU Banks. Initially, he was ridiculed. Later on newspapers started saying the same thing.AK is on right track on the EVM issue. If EC investigates, it might come to the same conclusions. Will EC do it on its own?AAP has pointed out discrepancies at booth level. It should not take much time for EC to verify them - particularly where VVPATs are available. EC should have an open mind before dismissing these concerns.A researcher had proven that EVM can be tampered and EC got him arrested on some flimsy charge. No system can be tamper-proof. It is the administrative controls that add an additional layer of security. But if the party in power decides to subvert will of people, then they can get the administrative controls compromised. Unless EC takes action we will become like many African countries where elections are held regularly but the Head wins the election with 99% votes EVERY TIME. Such a future awaits us unless EVM concerns are addressed by EC promptly.

Reply

Himmatlal Joshi

Mar 14, 2017 at 1:35 pm

Instead of talking about the dubious EVM to media and own supporters , the opposite parties should raise the issue in the Parliament. However, PM has the will power to make new India.People are with him all along.

Reply

Umeshchandra Mishra

Mar 14, 2017 at 2:34 pm

The elections were going on for more than month, when did Mayawati or Khujli get reports of tampering of EVMs ?Till the day of counting they were claiming possible victory, why no one talked of tampering threat till the results were out and they received knock out defeats . As Chief Election Commissioner Zaidi said, several times they have challenged doubters to demonstrate hacking, no body has done it yet. Even if one agrees for arguements sake that any electronic device can be tampered with, it is not possible to tamper with thousands of EVMs at differeent locations on different dates. Mayawati does not have the intelligence to sense that the days of caste, religion arithmetic determining voting patterns is over, people have come out of those mindsets. Khujli should now visit a meditation centre for self analysis, find reasons for 38 of 40 candidates in Goa losing deposits !

Reply

G

gopal

Mar 14, 2017 at 1:39 pm

THE GOVT MUST DISBAND MCD WHICH IS DEN OF CORRUPTION AS EXPERIENCED BY PEOPLE OF DELHI. THIS IS HAPPENING IN ALL CORPORATIONS OF THIS COUNTRY INCLUDING BOMBAY MUNIL CORPORATION WHERE ALL RESOURCES ARE LOOTED BY CORRUPT AND MONSTER POLITICIANS OF DIFFERENT PARTIES. SIMILAR IS POSITION OF GRAM PANCHAYAT. IN VIEW OF ABOVE FACTS, THE GOVT MUST DISBAND ELECTIONS OF ALL CORPORATIONS WHICH SHOULD BE TAKEN UNDER DIRECT CONTROL OF RESPECTIVE STATE ADMINISTRATION SINCE THERE IS TUG OF WAR BETWEEN MAYORS AND ADMINISTRATIVE HEADS OF CORPORATIONS WHO ARE NOT ALLOWED TO FUNCTION AND POLITICIANS ARE INDULGED IN UNDUE INTERFERENCE. THERE IS ALSO FIGHT BETWEEN STATE GOVT AND MCD OVER FUND ALLOCATION IN MCD AND OTHER CORPORATIONS WHICH PARALYZES WORKING RESULTED IN COMPLETE INDISCIPLINE IN MCD AS EVIDENT IN PAST. SO THERE IS URGENT NEED TO FREE THESE CORPORATIONS FROM CLUTCHES OF CORRUPT AND VULTURE POLITICIANS WHOSE ONLY OBJECTIVE IS TO LOOT RESOURCES OF CORPORATIONS. SWATCCH BHARAT ABHIYAN IS ONLY A SLOGAN AND IT NEVER BE IMPLEMENTED IF CORPORATIONS ARE MADE GRAZING FIELDS FOR CORRUPT POLITICIANS.